199: Bellwether Cider since 1996 | NY

199: Bellwether Cider since 1996 | NY

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist October 30, 2019 Duration: 1:01:37

In 1996 Bellwether Hard Cider and Wine Cellars opened for business in a repurposed chicken hatchery in upper New York state in the Finger Lakes regions surrounding Lake Cayuga. Now in its 23rd year of business, this family operation makes both cider, wine and is now planning to get into distilling.

Bill Barton of Bellweather Cider

Bill Barton of Bellwether Cider

This chat began outdoors under the covered porch outside the Tasting Room as a soft rain fell.

Bill began as a home fermenter making 5 gallon batches of wine and cider and then scaled up to a 1500 gallons when he first started the cidery.

Bellwether brings in juice from surrounding orchards and is even making cider for City Orchard based in Houston, Texas, slated to open in November 2019.

"Yeast is not a particularly important component"

Bill looks for the following in a balanced cider

  • Acid
  • Tannin
  • Sugar

He does not pitch any cultured yeast, but instead uses what is called an "Ambient" yeast - which I and other might call "wild yeast" in that it is what is found in both on the skin of the fruit and in the building.

Serial #0001

Serial #0000 from this one of a kind bottling line for 750ML Bottle line for 750ML Millennium line

750ML Millennium line #0001Twist Rinser: 12 ounce bottling line

Twist Rinser: 12 ounce bottling line

Bellwether Ciders

  • ambient yeast
  • back sweetened with sweet reserve "juice" only "if necessary" at bottling
  • Juice from Finger Lakes orchards
  • 6% alcohol by volume is what most ciders ring in at Bellwether
  • ferments dry
  • offers both carbonated and still

Flagship ciders

  • Original
  • Liberty Spy - one of the top best sellers. A blend of Northern Spy and Liberty
  • Lord Scudamore - is a Sparkling Cider that has been bottled conditioned for 5 years!

Bit of a reverse scene for packaging product at Bellwether

  • Bill started out with 12 ounce beer bottle  - and now only does 750ML.

What's in the future for Bellwether?

Bill recently purchased a copper Alembic still from Normandy, France. He plans to move into distilling product once he gets to licensing.

Normandy Still to be used at Bellweather Cider

Normandy Still to be used at Bellwether Cider, once licensing is complete

Contact for Bellwether Hard Cider and Wine Cellars

Website: https://cidery.com

Address: 9070 NY-89, Trumansburg, NY 14886

Telephone: 607-387-9464

Thank you to the following producers for helping to sponsor Cider Chat's tour of the Finger Lakes CiderWeek!

Mentions in this Chat

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There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

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